New Delhi: India and Rwanda have agreed to broaden their defence partnership by expanding cooperation in military training, joint exercises, defence manufacturing, and military healthcare during the second meeting of the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) held in New Delhi on July 6 and 7.
The two countries also approved an implementation roadmap with defined timelines to carry forward the decisions taken during the meeting, reflecting their commitment to strengthening long-term defence engagement.
The JDCC was co-chaired by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary in India’s Ministry of Defence, and Brigadier General Louis Kanobayier, Chief for Joint Force Development, Training and Doctrine at the Rwanda Defence Force Headquarters.
The Indian delegation included officials from the Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of External Affairs, Armed Forces Medical Services, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, and the three armed services.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Rwandan delegation met Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and discussed new avenues of cooperation aimed at further strengthening bilateral defence ties.
The visiting delegation also interacted with representatives of India’s defence industry, where they were briefed on the country’s expanding indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities, technological advancements, and opportunities for collaboration. Both sides identified potential areas for industrial cooperation and agreed to work towards accelerating partnerships in the defence production sector.
As part of the visit, the delegation toured the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in New Delhi to gain an understanding of India’s military healthcare system, advanced medical infrastructure, and the specialised medical support provided to armed forces personnel.
India and Rwanda formalised defence cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Rwanda in 2018. Since then, both countries have steadily expanded institutional engagement in the defence sector.
Officials said the successful conclusion of the second JDCC meeting marks another step forward in enhancing strategic cooperation, building institutional partnerships, and promoting closer defence relations between India and Rwanda.
